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Vince Wilfork not worried about his increased workload

FOXBORO -- As far as Vince Wilfork is concerned, he just wants to play.

The 29-year-old defensive lineman, in his eighth season with the Patriots, has become New England’s undisputed man in the middle. Whether it’s been at defensive tackle, defensive end or on the nose, he’s carved out an impressive niche as one of the best defensive linemen in franchise history and become one of the most dependable and durable defenders on the team.

But are the Patriots leaning a little too heavily on Wilfork this season? A closer look at the numbers reveals his workload is up dramatically when compared to past years.

According to Pro Football Focus, Wilfork has played 361 of a possible 413 defensive snaps through the first six games of the season, a rate of 87.4 percent and far and away the most of any defensive lineman on the New England roster. That represents a quantum leap from where he’s been the last few seasons. Through six games in 2010, he was at 65.9 percent (283 of 429 snaps). In the same stretch in 2009, he was at 61.2 percent (221 of 361) through the first six games. And in 2008, he played 72 percent (247 of 343) of the Patriots’ defensive snaps through the first six games.

Durability has never been an issue with the Miami product -- at one of the most strenuous positions on the field, he’s played all 16 games in five of the previous seven seasons, and hasn’t missed a start since 2009. But the possibility of wear and tear exists, especially for a veteran big guy (6-foot-2, 325 pounds) like Wilfork.

He said before practice on Thursday that he has no problem with more time on the field.

“I always want to be on the field, regardless of how you slice it,” he said. “Sometimes I can, sometimes I can’t, depending on how many plays I’ve been out there or how I’m feeling at the time. Like I said, I always work hard towards conditioning. Being a big guy and playing a lot of snaps, you really don’t see that around the league anymore because you have guys that can come in and give guys breaks at times.

“But I’m the type of person that I’m going to do whatever I can to stay on the field because I want to be on the field. I want to be out there in every situation. I know that sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t, but I’m prepared for it.”

More snaps or not, the rest of the league says that Wilfork is still playing at the same level that’s made him one of the best defensive linemen in the league over the course of the last decade or so.

“When you put the big guy in the middle -- he never seems to leave the field -- but he makes plays in the run game ... and you wouldn’t think, but in the passing game as well now,” said Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with a laugh, referencing Wilfork’s two interceptions this season.

“(Stopping him is) going to be a heck of a job ... whether that’s our center, or our guard. He seems to move around. I even saw him blitz off the edge one time – I think it was against Oakland, they kind of ran a mixer look and he rushed against the tackle. Whoever is against him, he is one of the premier guys in this league and I’ve got to be aware of him in the passing game as well now.”

There are a few possible reasons why Wilfork’s workload has increased so dramatically this season. First, the Patriots have had a lot of turnover on the defensive line, and even though they’ve changed up some of their schemes this season, the presence of Wilfork -- who has more experience in the New England system than anyone else -- goes a long way toward creating a stable environment.

Second, up until two games ago, the Patriots had actually played more defensive snaps this season than they have had in years’ past, so everyone’s defensive snaps have seen some sort of boost across the board.

However, the defensive improvements that have been flashed the last two weeks -- improved performance on third down (the Patriots are 7-for-23 the last two weeks) and yardage allowed (overall, the last two games, the Patriots have gone from 477.5 total yards allowed per game allowed to 423.7 yards allowed per game) -- have allowed the New England defense to get off the field faster than they had in the four previous games. That means fewer snaps for everyone.

“I think we’ve gotten better. I think as a team, we’ve gotten better and moved forward,” Wilfork said of the defensive performance. “We’re definitely at a situation where we’re still building. Everything’s not perfect, but it’s moving along pretty good.”

Going forward, as the new faces along the defensive line become more accustomed to playing together as a unit, Wilfork’s snap percentage might decrease. In addition, Wilfork could get a breather with the addition of Brandon Deaderick and Ron Brace, two young defensive lineman who spent the first six weeks on the physically unable to perform list but have now returned to practice and could be activated at any time.

But that doesn’t mean Wilfork still won’t be interested in staying on the field as long as possible.

“I love to play,” he said. “I love to play because I think the more I’m on the field, the better chance for me to help my teammates. And vice versa, when I’m off the field, the guy whose in for me, I’m confident in [him] doing his job. I always want to play. I always want to be on the field, no matter how you slice. I’d play both ways if they let me ... but I don’t think that would last too long at this level.”

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